A mix of in-person and virtual celebrations will mark the holiday honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in San Diego on Monday.
Alliance San Diego hosts its 34th annual All Peoples Celebration to commemorate Dr. King’s work at 10 a.m., with disabled-rights activist Rebecca Cokley serving as keynote speaker. Participate online, which requires a $45 admission fee.
The WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park will host its 32nd annual King Day event at 1 p.m. with live music, guest speakers and performers, including Pato Banton and the Now Generation, Antoinette Rootsdawtah, I-One Angeles and Empress Akua, and guest speaker Rev. Shane Harris.
On the arts side, San Diego Repertory Theatre will host a 6 p.m. virtual edition of “We Are Listening,” a live salon about Black artists’ experiences in the theater industry, hosted by Ahmed Kenyatta Dents, the Rep’s director of venue experience. The event will focus on the Federal Theatre Project, Negro Units and The House of Un-American Activities.
The MLK Day of Service continues locally this year, but in a limited capacity due to COVID-19. The pandemic also forced cancellation of the local parade typically held in Dr. King’s honor.
In addition, federal, state and local government offices will be closed for the holiday.
King was honored with a federal holiday – the third Monday in January, which lands near his birthday, Jan. 15 – nearly 40 years ago. All states had adopted the holiday by 2000.